1. Weather For the
most questions about the weather the answers are here. But those of
your favorite questions shall be answered right here:

When is the
rainy season in Koh Samui?

Due to the
geographical location of the island the rainy season is not that intense, it falls on the late-autumn period and does not coincide with
the rainy season on the other islands and the mainland of Thailand. At the same
time no one is safe from weather anomalies, which has occurred, for example, in
March 2011, when just before the beginning of the dry season (April-May, and this
applies to the entire territory of the Kingdom) there were severe floods that
affected the entire southern part of Thailand. 2. The trip
to Koh Samui

Are there non-stop flights?

International non-stop
flights to Koh Samui are not yet arranged. You can fly
directly to Phuket, or Pattaya, and from there get to Koh Samui. Or the
standard route - flight to Bangkok (the most popular routes and carriers are here), and then (by any of the means described here) to Koh Samui. Direct
flight from Bangkok to Samui is carried by two airlines: Thai and Bangkok Air.
You will arrive at a beautiful boutique airport, owned by Bangkok Air.

Should I buy a ticket from Bangkok to Koh Samui
(Bangkok Air) now, or should I wait and buy before the flight, what will be
cheaper?

There is a general
rule that applies to all
flights (Bangkok Air, Thai, Air Asia and NokAir to Samui, to Nakhon Si Tamarat or Surattani
(the cities on the mainland, not far from the ferry to Samui): the longer the period prior to the travel, the cheaper a ticket is. Also, from
time to time there are special offers valid for a certain period of time. Watch for
announcements on the websites of the major air carriers.

Can you help us with the
purchase of tickets for 6 people?

Actually,
we do not sell tickets. But if you have any unusual situation in which you do
not have the opportunity to buy tickets by yourself, please contact us. We
will try to help you. However, if
you're just too lazy to look for suitable flight and you want someone else to
do it for you - then there is nothing we can do.

Can you meet us at the airport in Koh Samui?

Yes. In
most cases, at the airport you are met by the representatives of the landlord
(the owner of the house or villa that you have booked). Please tell us in advance the flight
number and time of your arrival. Also, you
can get to the place on your own. But that only applies to the hotels. There are
several options to choose (for example lets take Lamai Beach):

Giving the
address would be rather useless (even if you managed to learn and remember it). You
will need the name of the hotel area / beach, where it is located, or a phone number.
If you are heading not to a hotel, but to the rented house / villa only a phone
call to the owners of the house can help.

If you
booked a hotel but did not order any transfer services directly from the hotel, as a
rule, you only need to give the address to a taxi driver (make sure you are
understood correctly).

Also in
advance, before you leave, it does not hurt to study a map of the island to be
at least roughly familiar with the beach which you are heading to, what
benchmarks (other hotels, some special features that stand out among other
buildings of the place) are there close to it.

Nobody is
going to drive in circles, winding kilometers (nobody drives here"by the
meter" so it just does not make any sense). If you are brought to the
wrong destination then you will need a
phone number of the hotel, give it to the taxi driver, he will call them and
find out everything. Reception number is
usually specified in an e-mail confirming the reservation.

We booked a house / villa through your site, got
to Koh Samui, what shall we do next?

The
situation here is simple - good hosts (and we only work with reliable land and house owners), as a rule will meet the guests themselves. Therefore, at the airport you will be awaited
with a sign that says your name or the name of the villa / complex of houses /
apartments. You shall be taken straight to the place where you pay the
remaining amount for accommodation, make a deposit (if it has been agreed upon) and enjoy
your stay. In most cases, the house owners would give you some time to take a rest
from the road before finishing the payment procedure.

How difficult is it with a small child to reach
the island by ferry (arriving in Bangkok)?

The ferry trip
is not that difficult, it takes only 1.5 hours. It is more difficult to get to this ferry. It is
usually a bus or train (sometimes - a flight to Nakhon Si Tamarat or Surattani). It
is rather cold in the bus and there are only seats there, whereas the train has beds and
you can sleep there. But it's almost 12 hours of travel, so it is up to you to decide
how difficult such a road trip will be for your child.

No, we're
not booking such tickets. It is easy to do it yourself online.
http://www.thairailwayticket.com/ If the trip
is not scheduled at the beginning of public holidays when there is a large migration of
the local population, it is usually possible to buy a ticket on the morning prior
to the departure at the central train station in Bangkok without
any problems and queues. But if you're not mobile we advise you not to risk it.
It is unlikely that you have memorized all the local festivals prepared for the wave-like
migration. Very
detailed information about trains, types of cars and other things is here. 3. The sea and beaches

For the
most of the questions about the sea and the beaches there has been given very
detailed answers in the "Beaches of Koh Samui" category. Also we would advise not to
read an article, "The beaches of Koh Samui,"
which not only gives a general idea of what ​​the beaches look like, but also says about many
other aspects of the stay on Koh Samui.

For each
beach (and we have described for you not only Chaweng and Lamai, but also got
into the most hidden and secret little places on Samui) there is a detailed description
of coastal features, what's the sand looks like, what is located nearby, water
transparency and level of crowd. Also, for every beach we have shot several videos showing "how it is in there". We were even purposely shooting on a cloudy day and often at low tide.
After all, at the high tide, and in bright sunlight all the beaches of the
island would be the same wonderful. But our purpose was to show it the way it really
is.

Is there any Beach fee?

No, all
beaches in Thailand belong to the state, and they can be used by
everyone without any restrictions. However the
sunloungers might not be free. Some of the
bars on the beach (for example, at the beach such Chpengmon ) may have their own sun chairs and umbrellas, but most often the bar has
a sign that announces that their customers can use the sunbeds for free. The
rest will be asked to pay. Typically, about 50-100 baht.

The sunbeds of
the hotels where you are not staying at can not be used. But you can discuss this with
the staff and if the hotel has no particularly regulations in this
regard it is usually possible to come to an agreement - for a fee or for purchasing a drink at the bar.
The same applies to the use of the hotel swimming pool - usually you're allowed to swim there if you buy a drink at the bar. They might even bring you a towel so that you do not stand out
too much among the other guests.

You can
always come with your towel to any beach in front of any hotel and enjoy your sunbathing lying on the sand. This works even for the most luxurious hotels and even the ones which
have blocked their territory and declared that the passage through
is restricted.

Is the sea more salty than the Mediterranean?

Mediterranean
sea, particularly in the area of ​​the coast of Turkey, seams more salty and bitter
than the water in the Gulf of Siam, where even the eye contact with the water does not cause
any noticeable discomfort.

Near the place where we will stay there is a
river that flows into the sea. How's the water? Is there any smell?

As a rule,
the water in the river comes from the hills from precipitation. That means that
the river is the usual rainwater. When rains are very strong, the soil
may get washed out and then the water will get a bit muddy. But this does not happen that often,
otherwise, all the rivers would have grown up to be of an incredibly large size
and would have completely destroyed the coast. The smell
and the mosquitoes are in the river when there is no rain and the water
stagnates.

In the western part of the Maenam beach there
is a Lompraya pier - is the water muddy there?

At Maenam,
as well as on some other beaches of Koh
Samui, the water is rather muddy. Always. That is its peculiarity. In the area
of ​​the Lomprayi pier the water is no worse than in other places in Maenam. A common
myth is that if there is a boat the water will have fuel in it.

Are there waves on the Lamai beach in December
and January?

Yes, during
this period in the east of the island there are waves almost all along the
coast much to our excitement. Only here and only in this period, you can jump
in the waves. However, they are not those dangerous waves as in Phuket. The sighs
that prohibit swimming are posted here very rarely, only when the sea is
really at a storm.

4. Rent

How to book and pay for the chosen option of the house
/ villa?

Step by
step guide is here. But first
you need to register on the website. This will make the communication easier.

The options are so numerous that we don't know
what to choose. Can you recommend something to us?

In order to suggest
you anything we shall need to know the details of your trip. To learn
how to make a request for our recommendation please read here.

How do I know if the house is available on the certain
date?

At the end
of each house description there is a calendar. Red marked are the dates when
the accommodation is unavailable (only the confirmed information from the
owners that someone has made a reservation). If the
desired dates of the house are not marked red, then there may be two options: - We have
recently made a request to this house and it really is free (but that could
change - the house is not considered reserved until the owner has received the
money) - Recently
we have not yet made a request to this house. By default, all dates are marked
as "free."

Accordingly,
when you choose a specific option that is not occupied on the desired date,
send an inquiry to us. We will contact the owner to ask if the house is available,
and if the house is free we start working on its reservation.

Can I request availability and the final price
for all 25 options that we like?

Fortunately,
we do not have managers and secretaries who would disturb the property
owners, first asking for information and after that canceling the request. Therefore,
our answer is: No. Please, choose
no more than 3-5 preferred options and report them to us. If none of them will do
(not available, the final price, etc.) we shall go on to the next group of selected
options.

How much is the deposit for the house
reservations?

The amount of
deposit depends on the owner and is set in each case individually. It depends
on the season and the duration of the lease and many other factors as well. Therefore,
in advance, without a specific request, we can not say how much of a prepaymentyou will need
to make. From 30% to 100%. Villas owners tend to require 100% of advance payment
several weeks prior to arrival.

What are the requisites and which
currency should I use to make a prepayment?

Requisite
elements are given by the owner of a house or by the villa management,
especially when it comes to large sums.

If the
owner does not have a bank account or for some reason can not accept
a transfer from abroad or you can not or do not want to send money to him
directly, we can provide you with our own requisite elements (Russian or Thai bank).
The amount
of payment is announced in Thai Baht. That is, all banking transactions must be
completed in one result - with the Thai baht in cash.

What should I write in the payment details?

Deposit.

How do I calculate the sum of money to transfer
to you so that you receive the exact amount for the reservation (it is stated
in Thai baht)?

For the
calculation please use the currencies rates. Thai baht to-date rates are here. With bank
transfer there may be slightly different numbers. It is better to make a stock by sending a bit more than you need. When the
final payment will be taken into account not a single baht will be lost.

We have
transferred the money, but due to the bank mistake it took them five days to
be transferred to your account. During this time the house has been intercepted. What should
I do? Is the money gone?

The first thing
is - change the bank. For the future. If
the money came to our account they are safe and sound and we can either
return it to you in the same way, or use it to pay for another option that
you can choose. If the money is sent to the owner's account - it will be
returned back to you.

I made a
reservation, paid a deposit, but could not arrive. Can I return the advance
payment (deposit)?

If the
owner has already received the money, we will do our best to get it back to you.
However, if there were no one to take the house that you chose, then, alas, it
is not likely that the owner will be willing to return the deposit. That's what the deposit is for -
confirmation of the reservation.

What kind of contract is signed when renting? Can
you send me a standard form?

After the
payment is received by the owner of the house, we will send you an e-mail
confirmation - an usual e-mail (we can send a "voucher", which is
valid for obtaining a visa to Thailand, if for some reason you need it). Lease
Agreement is not signed. With very few exceptions. You can make a careful
attempt to do so at the time of settling in. In any case
- playing legal games with Thais in Thailand - is that what you really need?

With the
house owners and with our clients we work exclusively on trust and value our
reputation.

The price that is stated on the website. For what period and for how many people is it?

Everywhere,
and it's not just the houses for rent category, in all sections, we provide the lowest possible
price. The price is as unified as possible in order to make it easier to
compare and specify it in the advanced search (a search for houses and villas).

The term
"low season", as it turned out, requires a separate explanation. It's no
secret that as in any resort there is a concept of
"Seasons", which has little to do with the weather seasons. Like
everything else in a market economy this depends on the seasonality of demand
and supply. Therefore,
despite some similarities and common principles (Christmas and New Year will be
the "peak season" everywhere in the world), each owner selects a season at their
discretion, which leads to the changes of the rent price. Some owners can set one and the same price in April as well as in the end of December. Some may change the
price twice a year - for winter and summer. And someone could jump back and
forth 7-8 times during the year. In order to
make it clear what the price will be (roughly (!), because the final price is still reported on request) at
the end of the description of each villa there is a table of prices.

Some owners
indicate price in U.S. dollars or euros, but for convenience we state it
in Thai baht (according to the exchange rate at the date of adding the villa into
our catalog). Accordingly, if there happens a considerable fluctuations in the
currency market, the price will be different. Once again:
The final price and the amount of the deposit for the reservation is stated by the owner
on request!

Maximum
number of guests is specified in the description of the villa. The availability
and the cost of an extra bed (extra guests at the villa) is also indicated in
the description.

Some villas
can be rented in parts. Such a possibility is not provided to all the villas,
but if such an option is provided, it will be stated on the website. The title of such
villas usually looks like this: "Villa Peerapat (4 bedrooms)." Despite
the fact that the villa has 4 bedrooms (it is stated in the description), also
in the catalog you will see a villa, titled as "Villa Peerapat (3
bedrooms)"), it can be rented by all four or only three bedrooms. The price for
a partial rent will be cheaper, it is listed in the table at the end of
the respective descriptions.

In the "hotels"
category the price is stated per night, it is minimum possible for this hotel
(obviously, depending on the level of luxury of the accommodation the price will be
different, and in different seasons the price of the same room will fluctuate).

In "houses"
and "apartments" categories the price is stated per month for the rent
of the whole house or apartment. Note: For
a month! Not "the
cost of monthly rent for a year," and not the "price per day, multiplied
by 30 days." The cost of
a daily (if possible), weekly rent, etc. is listed in the description, after the
additional options. Maximum amount of people is automatically considered by the
number of beds.

Despite the
price indicated on the website, the final price depends on the owner and is confermed upon
a specific request so it may be somewhat different. It concerns not only houses,
but also villas and apartments. It also depends
on the peculiarities of the request (dates, seasonality, as they are interpreted by a
specific owner, short and long term rental... in the end the owners may
just be in a much needed of money and decide to raise the price)

The price for
rent per month is lower than the price per week, multiplied by 4. We booked the
house for three weeks, and the owner said that the cost is higher than as if we
have stayed there for a month. Why is it so?

This is
"Thai arithmetics" Plus, the laws of the market, there is always a "wholesale"
discount. According to these same rules when booking and paying in advance for
a long period (3, 6 months or a year) there should be a good discount. If you
can not make an advance payment for such a long period, but you are confident
in your plans, we can agree on a deposit, guaranteeing a long stay, and the
simultaneous reduction of monthly rental fees. But be prepared to lose the deposit if
plans change and you move out before the agreed deadline. Some of the owners offer
a free 12-th month rather than discounts for a "Long stay".

As for the usual
vacation, (short term lease) there are following calculations: If you book
two or three weeks, the price of the week indicated on the website is multiplied
by the number of weeks. If you book for 13 days, the owners can multiply the
daily price on 13, and may give you the price per week plus 6 days of rent, or
round up to two weeks and count on the weekly rate multiplied by two. Of
course, you have to bargain and that is what we always do, defending the
interests of our clients. If you
cheat and book the house for a month and actually stay there for 20-25 days you
can get a proper scandal.

Do I need any other deposit besides paying for the
entire term of the lease?

Typically,
the owners who would require such a deposit, indicate this in the description of the
house/villa, and this information is available on our website. This deposit
is made to guarantee the safety of furniture and household appliances, as well
as bills for electricity and water ( Internet if it is separate from the
rental price is usually paid for beforehand). Deposit shall be refunded upon
departure when all the bills are paid and the owner took back the house.

Water, electricity and Internet - how is the
price calculated? Daily, per person or else?

All the information
on these calculations is usually listed in the detailed description of each house
or villa. Generally, if water and electricity are charged separately, the
calculation is done on the actual flow rate (on the meter). For the use of the
pool (some times a separate fee is taken) - per each person. Internet - a fixed
price for the period of the whole house / villa rental.

Water and
electricity fee (rates per cubic meter and kilowatt) in all the houses are
different. It depends not only on the owners, but also on the area of the house,
whether it uses the municipal water supply, or its own well, how high in the
mountains it is, etc.

How do I know how far it is to the beach /
shops / river?

In the
description of each house and villas we specify the real state of things.
Therefore, if the owner of the villa indicates in the description that "there is only 5 minutes walk to
the beach" but in reality there is a mile in
a straight line, or all five through the jungle, then we shall specify that "it is only possible to get to the
beach by a transport, preferably on the SUV ".

Where is the house located geographically? How far from
the road / airport / busy public areas?

We have tried to put the
location of each house on the map in the description
(there might be no map, but we're working on it).
Yes, the map is rather small, but you can get the general idea.

Is it possible to get a more detailed
information and some more pictures?

We do not
hide anything, and all the information, photos and all that we have is
there on our website. If there is a specific question or a need to
clarify something important - we will do
it for you.

Is it possible to contact the owner of the
house? Or the comunacation goes through you?

Yes, prior
to your arrival, all communication go through us. In fact, we see no reason
why you may need these direct contacts. In any case, we do not hide the real
names of the houses and villas and those reading this article at least can
use the Internet. Want to find the owners - you will find them. But in that
case you will lose us.

What about the garbage? Where should it be taken to?

At the
villas are taking care of the garbage disposal - it is the duty of the staff who keep it clean.
When renting a house where there is no such staff or if there is an urgent
need to take out the trash at the villa bring it to the nearest trash can.
These bins are placed along the ring road and streets (called Soi) that go deep into
the island.

Is there a spare linen in the house or should I
buy it myself?

As a rule,
in all villas the bed linen and towels are regularly replaced and cleaned by the
caring staff. When renting a house, the owners often give a
complete set of linen and one towel. You are gonna have to wash it yourself (there are laundry
rooms at every corner and there is a service "Express Wash" when
everything is done in a few hours). In the houses
where there is an official cleaning staff of the residential complex they
often change and wash bed linen and towels.

How much does your service in helping of the
choosing of the house cost?

For you our services are free. We get the commission (usually around 10%) from the
property owner after the transaction. That is why we will be pleased when after
you have received all the consultations and all the information you need you
do not go to the other agency. It is all
about the karma, believe it or not. We do believe. And the final decisions -
they're all yours.

How is the settling in arranged?

The owner
meets you personally (see "The trip to Koh Samui"), gives you the
keys, together you check the electricity meter, pay the remaining part of the
rent price, get a check for payment and settles in a house / villa. In case of
any overlaps or confusion - you have all of our contact numbers, call us -
we'll handle it.

Is such an
option possible: When I get to Samui, we shall take a ride around and see the
possible variants?

That is
possible. But there are a few
things to consider: - Choose all the variants in advance on the website so that we don't have to drive around at
random. - Keep in
mind the current "season" (and the "high season" is not only the
New Year holidays). Upon arrival it may well be that all the selected options
have already been occupied. - Think again, perhaps it is better to get back to the variant of reservation PRIOR to arrival on the island.

How much time in advance should I make a
reservation, so that it is not too late?

The sooner
the better. Booking is done on the principle of "who pays first gets the
house". The reservation for some of the very good and famous villas for the New Year's Eve has been planned two or three years ahead.

What is the
situation with all the small living creatures in the houses? Are there any?
Spiders, snakes, rats, etc.

We have not
seen any rats. Honestly. Been looking for them but never seen them. Spiders might occasionally
come into the house. But they are never going to attack you. Try to gently, without
unnecessary sudden movements, with a broom, move the guest outside. The same
scheme applies to the flying cockroaches (sometimes they are drawn to the
light) and other insects.

But in
general - you
can protect yourself from small and medium-small flying and crawling living creatures by using mosquito nets on the windows, locking the doors and
sealing the gaps underneath. More
information about the situation with the crawling creatures such as ants is given
here and here.

Snakes do not usually crawl to the house, especially if the house is standing on stilts and the snake would have to be crawling up the stairs, then ... Is it that crazy!?

Inside the
houses (and even in the expensive resorts) you may find harmless geckos that feed on flying insects. Do not worry, they will not fall
on your head at night while running across the ceiling. They might poop a
little, but that is all they can do.But this is
nature, not a metropolis. To be close to it you have to pay the price, even like
that.